A/N: I love Swan Queen, and everything about it! So I wanted to join my fellow shippers and attempt my own story.
True Love
Chapter One- Everything Comes With A Price.
The old saying was, that magic always comes with a price, which has always been true. But the less common saying is that all things come with a price. Nothing in this world is for free, and you must always pay for you choices, however big or small they are. Emma had always known this, even from a little girl, she knew you must always give to receive. But she never thought she would have to sacrifice so much, to protect the ones she loves.
So here she stood, a month later after her sacrifice, staring at a place that she once called home, fighting her tears, as she longed to return. To see her mother again, to feel her warm arms wrapped around her in a strong embrace, like she used to when she was small. Or to look upon her father, watching as his strong and stoic face broke into a goofy smile as he lifted her upon his shoulders and sprinted down the halls as she screamed in delight. But she had made a choice, one she knew she must stand by, if she wished for her family to remain safe.
"All things come with a price..." her voice was barely a whisper, as she turned away from the White castle, and trudged back into the forest, heavy rain falling upon her as she went. A man stood waiting for her, his heavy leather jacket hanging around his ankles, water streaming off of it, pooling around his boots, were a shaggy furred wolf sat, his ears lop sided, as he tilted his head to look at the runaway Princess approaching him. When she reached the sodden man, she offered a small smile, before falling forward into his open arms, allowing him to hold her close, as she let slip a single tear, mixing with the droplets of rain, already clinging to her pale face.
"You did the right thing lass" his gruff voice filled her ears, slightly muffled from where his face was buried in her golden mane of hair.
"Did I?" Emma shut her eyes tightly, attempting to block out her emotions. She pulled back to look at him, and he rested his hand on her cheek, a calloused thumb, wiping away her tears, knowing all too well they were there amongst the rain drops.
"Yes, by doing this you have a chance to set your own paths in life, not pushed into one by a stupid prophesy! Out here, it's all you." He leaned forward and planted a chaste kiss atop her forehead, before leaning back once more to stare into her emerald eyes. At his words, Emma couldn't help but let her smile come through. It was short lived however, when a crack of thunder rang out, shattering the peace of the night, and the therapeutic hum of the rain.
"She should be heading back, I've survived this long without being caught by my parents guards, I wouldn't want to ruin all that now by hanging around too long".
"Right you are love, hopefully Smee will have done his job and cleaned the ship up a bit, I don't fancy sleeping on another rum bottle again". Emma let loose a chuckle, remembering his earlier ranting about the state of the Jolly Roger.
"It might help if you cut back on the rum a little perhaps?" though it was dark, she could still see insulted look upon Hook's face.
"I would be the worst pirate in history if I didn't indulge in some of the stereotypes that surround us! And besides, there's nothing a little rum can't fix" his playful tone seemed to help ease Emma, and help her forget the weight of her situation. Something brushes passed her leather clad leg, and she glanced down to see her companion trotting head, scouting for any dangers that might threaten her. She owed her life to the young wolf. Not long after she fled her old life, she was met almost immediately by the dangers of the forest, when she ventured to far in, stumbling across a very unfriendly pack of wolves. But she was saved, a young wolf had stood before her, and defended her from the advancing wolves, but getting badly injured in the process. It had seemed only fair that she tended to the wolf, his white, shaggy fur had been coated in blood from his wounds, and she feared he would make it, but he did. Miraculously he pulled through, and had remained with her ever since. She had never once regretted helping the wolf, his companionship had been everything she needed at the time. Emma called him Maximus, thinking it was a strong name, for an equally strong wolf.
"What is your pet doing?" Hook's voice cut through her train of thought, pulling her back into reality.
"He's not a pet! He's my companion".
"I don't care what he is, he still makes me nervous!" Killian shifted uneasily, as he stared at the wolf up ahead.
"He probably thinks the same of you" she smirked at his discomfort of her kind natured friend, as a joke she told him, Max had ripped the throats of the wolves that tried to kill her, and ever since Hook had been very uncomfortable being around the beast.
"Besides, you too are still getting to know one another, it's only been like 2 weeks? You'll warm up to each other I'm sure" she only got a grunt in reply, which caused another chuckle to slip past the pale lips.
They walked in silence for the remainder of the trip back to the docks, where the Jolly Roger was moored for the night. As they went Emma let her self be whisked away by her thoughts once more. She thought of her parents and all that they had taught her of the horrors of the outside world.
Xxxxx
Flashback
"Any last words?" a sword tip rested under her chin, as she lay on her back, staring up at the eyes of the man above her.
"You'll never take me alive" she screamed and she leapt at the man, knocking his sword aside with her own, and pinning him down, her own sword pressed against his throat.
"Emma! Be careful with your father, he isn't as young as he once was" a gentle voice said behind her, and she turned to look at mother, her face wearing a bright smile as she looked upon her child. She let out a scream once more as Charming wrapped his hands around her small body, electing more screams as he tickled her, his own chuckles barely audible through her shrieks. She wriggled from his grasp, running towards her mother, climbing upon her lap and using Snow's arms to shield her from her father.
"Save me Mummy!" she fake cried, smiling at her father through a gap in her mother's arms.
"The pair of you act like children" Snow lightly scolded, as she watched her husband collapse back onto his throne.
"But I am a child" Emma giggled.
"I don't know" Charming's voice sounded next to her "You're nearly eight now, I think you could rule the kingdom on your own now". Snow glanced at her husband, catching his wink at her, before turning back to look at her beaming daughter.
"Do you really think so Mummy?" the emerald orbs shone with such wonder and hope, Snow felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes.
"I think you have always been ready my love" she reached out and brushed the blonde strands from her daughters face, "you're a born Queen, and will do us proud one day" she leant down to nuzzle her nose against Emma's, "I just know it". Snow looked back up to meet Charming's eyes, both sharing the same moment, both looking back at their daughter.
"But being Queen isn't easy, there are many things you will have learn Princess". Emma stared at her father, a confused expression upon a small face.
"Like what?"
"Well for starters, you'll have to learn how to fight properly. There are many dangers out in the world, and a many number of thing that would want to hurt you, and your kingdom".
"Like wolves and pirates?!"
"Exactly!"
"And thugs and witches and wizards" Emma began to ramble about all things she had learned about, while Snow and Charming listened, small smiles upon their faces.
"And the Evil Queen!" Emma shrieked proudly. She looked up at her mother, when she felt her stiffen suddenly, her hold on her becoming tighter than before. "What?" she looked between Snow and Charming, waiting for one of them to speak.
"Emma, what do you know of the Evil Queen?" Snow said gently.
"That she's evil!" Emma said in a matter of fact voice.
"And?" Snow prompted.
"And…" the young Princess paused for a moment, as if thinking long and hard about her answer. Snow sighed, glancing at her husband, before turning Emma to fully face her.
"Emma I want you to know something. The Evil Queen is evil, because she made many bad choices in life".
"Why?" Snow looked at her daughter for a moment, seeing the pure innocence in her eyes.
"Because long ago she was hurt. And pain can make people do terrible things sweetheart. But she wasn't always bad, once she was very good, and one of the kindest people I knew." Snow paused for a moment, thinking of how to put her next sentence.
"Darling, all you need to know is, evil isn't born it's made. No one starts out evil, and that everyone has a choice, you must always remember that".
"Why?" Snow sighed, knowing all too well what the prophecy had depicted about her daughter.
"You'll understand someday Princess".
Xxxxxxxx
Emma smiled as she thought of her parents, it had taken her a long time to find out what her mother had meant, and what the prophesy had for told about her. But as she walked alongside her friend, she knew everything they taught her had aided her sacrifice, no matter what the prophecy said, she could not push her parents words from her minds.
"Love is the most powerful force in the world, Emma. No matter what happens we must always protect the people we love, for you see without love, then there is no hope".
Her mother told her this many times as she grew up, she would tell her about hope and love, and how powerful they were, and so long as you hold onto them, you can face even the most darkest of times. It was these teaching that aided her sacrifice, and how she had wanted to protect her loved ones. If only she could have told them what she was doing, then maybe the pain of leaving would have been dulled. But it never was, her pain was still so very fresh, the memories of running that night still burned in her mind, while her dreams were plagued with her mothers screams, and the sounds of the heartbreak her parents felt when they realised she was gone.
"Swan?" Emma shook her head to rid the sounds of her mother's pain, before turning to look at her old friend.
"Yeah" her voice came out slightly hoarse and cleared her throat in attempts to sound normal.
"You were thinking about them weren't you? Your parents?" there was a long pause before Emma answered him.
"I'm always thinking about them".
They continued to walk to the docks, the conversation light, as to avoid pocking any emotions. Hook rambled on about gun maintenance, and how you should always clean your gun after use.
"I had a mate who didn't clean his gun correctly" Hook began, and Emma rolled her eyes, and prepared herself for the story she had heard three dozen times.
"Oh?" she tried to sound interested.
"Yeah, you see if you don't clean it properly, then you can badly hurt yourself you see!"
"Three dozen and one" Emma thought.
"My mate went to shoot this low life who snuck on my ship, but when he went to shoot him-"
"The gun exploded, taking off all his fingers!" Emma said with mock enthusiasm. "And from then on you called him stumpy, and he never used a gun again" she finished, smiling at the annoyed look on Hook's face.
"It's not a joke! These things should be taken more seriously" he said defensively.
"Yes they should, and I would love to hear more about it, but alas, we are here" she gestured to ship before them, a lantern hung from a pole, bathing the ship in a warm golden light.
"Ah! Home sweet home eh?"
"Indeed, and now I bid you goodnight, we have a long day, ahead of us tomorrow" Emma began to head towards the bunks below, but was stopped when she felt him pull her back.
"Look love, are you sure you ought to be coming with me? On the sea no one knows you, but I don't think the Queen would miss I chance at snapping up the White Princess, eh?"
"It'll be fine Killian, you say this every time, and we've never even seen the Evil Queen set foot in one of the harbour villages" Emma patted him reassuringly on the arm, before turning to head below deck once more.
"I hope you're right lass".
Xxxxxxx
Regina stared out across her kingdom, a cool breeze fluttering past her. She had heard there was quite a commotion in the south of the realm, and had sent a scout to investigate what had gotten the un-Charmings so upset.
Letting the Charming's live had been a terrible choice on her behalf, but she had truly lost all inspiration on how to hurt them. If it weren't for the little flying bug they kept around, she would have killed them long ago, but instead here she was, unable to inflict pain upon them for all these years. It had been eighteen years since her failed dark curse, and eighteen years she had sat, tending to her kingdom, watching it flourish under her rule, but she was never truly satisfied, not while Snow was alive.
She turned walked back into her chambers, sensing a storm on the horizon. She waved her hand and a glass of mead appeared there, she smirked at it, before lifting it to her red lips and taking a slow sip, savouring the taste of apples, that danced across her tongue, and warmed her stomach. She sat down upon one of the seats by fire place, relaxing her muscles, and letting the stress of another day slowly ebb away.
A sharp knock at her chamber doors roused her from her relaxed state, and glared at the doors for a moment.
"Enter!" she said angrily, irritated by the fact her peace had been interrupted. An older man walked into her chambers, his white hair, sticking out on either side of his head. He bowed respectfully before speaking.
"My Queen".
"What do you want Daddy?" she snapped impatiently.
"Your scout has returned from the south".
"Well?".
"Snow and Charming have a daughter" Regina chocked on her mead and turned to look at him.
"What?!"
"There's more, she gone missing, believed to have gone rogue in the forest" the Queen stood suddenly, sweeping towards the cowardly man.
"How old is she?"
"I believe she is eighteen" Regina's lips curled into an evil smile, and she turned to look out of the window once more, a plan already forming in her mind.
"Oh, this is going to fun".
A/N: Wow, this took a bit of putting together, but it is finally up. Please review and tell me what you think, or PM if you have questions! There are lots of loose ends here that will be explained, such as the prophesy, and how Regina didn't know Emma existed all these years. All will be revealed, so just wait and see what happens next! Till next time Kids.